[Flashback] Family Bonds (Kelaugh)

[Solicah]

Ignoring the foot tapping Solicah stretched a little, his neck popping slightly. "Good, do you mind if I touch your shoulders?" He asked his voice now becoming slightly calming as his excitement dropped off into fatigue.

He hoisted himself up, with some effort, and walked around behind her where he fell to his knees. He pulled his arms up holding his hands over her shoulders a moment, then slowly rested one with a firm but unrestricting presser on each shoulder. "Now can you feel my hands? They comfortable?" He waited for responses in between each question and altered his grip depending on Kelaugh's words. After all was comfortable he continued, "My hands are warm, and firm. They have four fingers and one thumb on each one." He one by one put slight pressure down with each finger. He wanted to focus her attention, but being a physical person himself didn't just want to do it with words, but also with touch.

"My hands are also empty, like a water skin. And they can hold anything, no matter how much it is." His words were simple, but the practice was quite profound for his age, even if it was dependent on the young girl's imagination. "The muscles on your shoulders feel heavy, and fatigued. Now put that fatigue into my hands so you don't feel it anymore. You feel the slight breeze on your skin. Now put the wind into my hands." His speech became slower and calmer as he continued, his hands unmoving upon each instruction. His plan was to continue down the list, to filter every distraction into his hands so all of her thoughts were on one spot to begin with. "You can hear people talking. Now put their voices into my hands. You think of the Pavilion. Now put the Pavilion into my hands. You feel the ground below you. Now put the ground into hands." His knees began to hurt after a few minutes, but he knew if his plan worked it would be well worth it. "Your muscles ache. Now put that into my hands. Your foot is restless. Now put that into my hands." That suggestion was the test, to see if his words were working.

[Kelaugh]

Kelaugh felt his hands on her shoulders and she followed his directions. She straightened her shoulders as she felt the fatigue melt away. She no longer felt the breeze on her skin at his behest. The only voice she could hear was Solicah's. The only thoughts she had was what Solicah wanted her to do next. The ache of her muscles was forgotten. She no longer felt the ground below. And wonders of all wonders, her foot stopped tapping.

She breathed steadily, slipping into a meditative state slowly. She liked the feeling, as if she was floating an inch off the ground. Somehow disconnected but more connected then she'd ever felt. She hoped that was she was feeling now was right and that maybe, just maybe, she would see the web today.

[Solicah]

The young Drykas' heart leaped in his chest at his success. Though, he maintained an even and controlled tone over his voice. "New thoughts might enter your mind. Now put those into my hands." He hoped that would allow her to channel any doubts of hers, or restraint into his hands, all while he worked away at the next step, the real work.

His eyelids fluttered lightly over his bright eyes as he began seeing that which was there all along. The shallow laylines stretched out from him, and he made short work of locating Kelaugh's. Her silver cheva lay open in the winds of the web, unfashioned but much molested. He could see the spots where more forceful adults had attempted to pull at her soul, and it had left marks, all scared over by crude knots. It pained him to see this, and he could understand why his cousin fought the transition so much if it always caused that.

Though his physical hands lay perfectly still, he reach out to her in a new way, with new unseen and unfelt hands. Much like he did for her body before, he held his incorporeal hands outward, stretched over, but not touching her energy. She was in fact like the wild Striders of their homeland, as he had joked before, so powerful and proud at her core. She deserved her space to be respected, so he took his time introducing his own energy to hers, though he knew on a conscious level she wouldn't feel any of it. He couldn't tell how much time it took, maybe minutes, or moments, but eventually he felt comfortable pressing his own energy forward. Much like his hands, his energy was warm, firm , and empathetic.

Her chave suddenly coursed through Solicah's as they met. The sensation hit like a gust of dry summers air, and the experience was like riding along with a powerful unbriddled mare, heavy breath, and deep hoof beats as she effortlessly fell into the space before her, disciplined in her own feral strength. Scars like many unrecognized umbilical cords, reaved and carelessly sealed laid across her energy's thick hide, and it caused tears to well in Solicah's eyes, both in soul and body.

He clung to the sensation for some time, just feeling the pulse and rush of her energy. He knew, however, that it was dangerous to reach out into the Web without discipline and purpose. With long expressive sweeps of his invisible fingers he began spinning the tail of her chave. He was careful to follow her lead, to let her heart's story dictate the pulls, and weaves, and knots. He began with just weaving within her, writing their own anchor over those of her teachers past. He promised himself to help her untie those gruesome scars some day, when he was more experienced, so she would not have to live with them now, and onto the next life.

Only once her chave was woven into a beautiful story, not restricting the freedom of her powerful spirit, he recognized himself again. Familiar, his own light shined as clearly to him as it did everybody else, he made himself receptive to her soul, then reached out. He pulled, with ease, his own chave out to her, and carefully tethered it to the center of her weave. Firmly bound to the core. Then, very carefully reached out along the tether for her. As if reaching out his hand, he beckoning her spirit to come with him, to see the new world, the new plains to roam upon with him. All as if opening the barn door to the caged mare, opening her soul so a bigger richer world than the confined cage she would otherwise be restricted.

He did not push, or command her to do anything, and that he knew, like a child's birth, he would need to guide her weave the first time, maybe with some force in order to pull her from her body. But, he knew well that the majority of the hard work would be her's. Weather she knew it or not.

[Kelaugh]

Kelaugh floated in a calming space, hearing whispers that she didn't quite catch, like the tail end of a song fading into nothing. She felt cool and calm, which was a new experience for her. Time meant nothing here, here in her protected space.

She trusted Solicah implicitly, and she hoped that he would be the one to lead her to the web. His methods were unlike any she had experienced, he was slow and calm, didn't yell like one of the teacher's she'd had. He treated her gently, like she was delicate.

Suddenly she felt warmer, as if she had been bundled up in a warm sheet. It almost smothered her but she forced herself to breathe. She wondered what was going on as she tried not to panic. The heat intensified, then all of a sudden it withdrew completely, leaving her to shiver from its loss.

But maybe it was not gone completely, she still felt the curious heat in the centre of her chest. There was a slight pull there as well, like a cord had been attached to her core. The pull intensified a little and Kelaugh tugged back, testing it. It stayed firm, but something seemed to give a bit inside her. The tug came again and this time Kel trusted it and went with the pull.

The heat engulfed her again, but instead of overwhelming her, this time it comforted her. It felt like a loving hug, like the ones she used to get from her grandfather. She trusted this warmth. A bright light now bathed her eyes and she struggled not to open them, as she had been told not to.

[Solicah]

Solicah stayed fast, anxiously waiting for Kelaugh. When she didn't answer his beckoning at first, his breath and heart seemed to catch in a stand still. But, then came the glorious moment where she began to push outward him along the thread. His soul soared. In a quick burst of energy, knowing that moment to be the one he must do his true part as the mentor, he fed more of his energy to the thread between them, dilating it quickly, then grabbed hold of her for a sharp tug. The sensation was like stretching out that last few inches to grab the hand she had held out. Obviously the most active and exhausting part of this ordeal, Solicah knew it was well worth it however, as long as his timing was perfect.

Sure enough, with only a slight twinge of pain through his soul, as he strained to pull another along, there was give, almost like a release of suction. And she came falling effortlessly into his invisible arms, filling him with her trust and fiery energy. He responded with elation.

Kelaugh felt a gradual build up of pressure within her as this played out, as if quickly scaling a large mountain. The energy was pure and utterly unidentifiable as any true emotions. It was warm, and powerful like that of Syna, yet as mysterious and unknowable as Leth's shifting grace. All thought broke away from her mind as the energy built and built and built, to the point she was sure to burst.

Only at the peak of sensation did she feel Solicah's intervention. Like a sharp twinge of searing pain, lasting only a single moment. Her body went to scream out in retaliation, but it didn't. Instead her soul let forth an intense below, projected in a language she never knew could be spoken. The sound of her own call reverberated around her in an unearthly manner, as the hot sensation began to recede into a slight chill.

Solicah's firm hands wrap around Kelaugh's skin. Though it seemed to take a moment for there to be skin, and the hands seem to encompass her entire body. She knew immediately that it was Solicah, without opening her eyes, she felt him, and his entire body. She felt like she might also be able to see more of him as well, though she didn't yet know how.

"Good," his voice fell upon her like rays of sun upon the skin, "now you can open your eyes, and see the web."

Opening her eyes was an odd sensation, as she realized it was less like using her eyes, then allowing her surroundings to shine through to her senses. Everything was vivid with extreme contrast, then dropped off into a thick silver fog, only to become vivid a few feet later. Her perception was limited at first, but slowly stretched out to take in her surroundings. They seemed to be standing (in a sense) over an expanse of brightly glowing strands of beautifully woven threads. Each strand called out to her with it's exotic light. Even Solicah, who in essence looked exactly like he would on the physical plain, seemed different here, to glow with the alluring exotic light.

His expression was warm, and jovial. Pride, not only in himself, but in her her more so, showed through to his core. "This is the Web, cousin. Each strand is a piece of our history, and a living part of our present. Some say it even holds out future in it's weaves." A lesson she had heard a thousand times before, in theoretical study of webbing, but had been truly meaningless till she could see it's glory with her own eyes. It was easy to understand why elders always cautioned the young about the world's seductive powers. How easy it would be to wonder off along the endless roads of light and never return.

Solicah, still holding her closely, pulled the thread between them upward, holding it before her eyes. It's sheen seem similar and inviting, almost mundane if it had not been so utterly foreign. "This is the bond between us, Kelaugh. If you are ever lost, or don't know what to do you can follow this to me. Just hold onto the strand and will yourself to speed along it. Don't restrict yourself with speed, though. Travel need not take any time here, like it does with your body. But, do be cautious of distance. If over stretched these bonds can snap, and leave you lost. Stay very close at first as you grow, and learn." His voice was informational, like a mentor, but also bordered on the edge of giddiness, the jovial pride permeating every warm word. He never though he would get to teach another as he had been taught. And he never aspired to connect so profoundly to his cousin in this way.

"But, there is one thing that you must build the strongest tether to." He said with a smile, loving the upcoming lesson. "Let yourself see the physical world." He said as he coaxed her around, trying to help her focus her energy along the thread between them into the solid realm. The process was easy, and what sat there was her. Behind her knelled calmly Solicah's body, hands still firmly holding her shoulders. Both seemed just how they left them, sure and calm. Slight tears streaked down Solicah's face, and showed how amazing the immense detail that could be perceived through the web was, down to each and every pore along their sun kissed skin. Solicah wanted to make sure she understood that she had left her body, and not only was it safe, but she was free of it's confines. That she could move and see freely now.

"How does it feel to be a web mage?" He asked with a smile. He knew their time was limited to only a couple of minutes at first, and it would likely leave her very drained afterward, but he wanted to know how his cousin felt.

[Kelaugh]

Kelaugh listened patiently to her cousin's explanation of what they were looking at, looking wonderingly around her. It was stunning, breathtaking, like nothing she had ever experienced.

She listened carefully as she explained their bond, looking inquisitively at the shining thread. She felt reassured, as she looked around, she could see why people got lost in this shining timeless place.

When they looked at the physical world, she admired it as well. It seemed much clearer from here in the web. For a moment it was disorienting to see herself as another would, but she adjusted quickly. She looked at her cousin behind her and wondered for a moment why Solicah's face was wet from tears, but she didn't ask now, she would save that question for later.

She grinned back at her cousin and answered his question, "It feels amazing. I never knew it would be like this. Thankyou Solicah, thank you so much." Unable to help herself, she hugged him tight.

[Solicah]

He embraced her in return with effervescent pride. Unfortunately, he knew she couldn't stay long, so the next lesson would have to wait till she was rested. "Now we need to get back in our bodies now, before you over exert yourself." He gave her a firm kiss on her young cheek, rimmed in silver light, then released her from the embrace.

"We will come back soon, when you feel up to it. For not, just will yourself back into your body. I find looking into my own eyes, or touching my body sometimes helps if I'm having trouble." Still holding her he helped ease her closer to her body. "It will hurt a little at first, as you spirit fills your mind and body again, but don't worry it will pass." Solicah have an encouraging nod, and loosened his firm grip on her, letting her return before him.

[Kelaugh]

Kelaugh nodded and leant down to touch her own shoulder, looking at her face. Again she felt the strange displacement of looking at herself, but forced past it, concentrating on returning to herself. She felt herself moving back into her body slowly. It felt strange, on the verge of hurting.

After a long moment she was back in her body and feeling pins and needles in her limbs. Her mind felt thorougly fatigued and her whole body was tired.

[Solicah]

Solicah smiled as she effortlessly fused with her body. He had been right, she did hold a certain power and grace over her craft upon the web. She just hadn't been awoken to it before then.

He reached back and touched the thread securing him to his own body and funneled down through it, filling the familiar vessel. He took his time stretching himself back out, expanding into every muscle and vein of his young body. It hurt, like when a limb goes numb but then awakens, but Solicah enjoyed the sensation. It somehow made the whole experience seem real to him, and gave some finality to his return.

This time his return came with it the feeling of fatigue not from just his exertions weaving, but also the race that took place prior. He wanted to collapse, so he did. Leaning forward briefly he wrapped his arms around Kelaugh tightly then yanked her backward into the grass with him. Along with the motion he let out a yelp of laughter, and pain as the pricks went skittering throughout his tender muscles.

"You did it!" He exclaimed for everybody around to hear, grin stretched wide across his face. He gave a feeble bear bug to her from behind, then let her spill off of him to the side. He winced slightly as the bulk of the pain that he had yet to grow accustomed to subsided, then looked over at his cousin. His grin shifted into a serene smile, and he quietly said, for just her to hear, "You did it."

That night both of them felt like Ankal. They were given sweet bread, which was rare in their Pavilion, and praised many times over by several adults, primarily those that had attempted to teach Kelaugh in the past. The entire night held a sense of victory and honor. That small taste of heroism lay seed in the children's souls, carving the path to many stories to come. Each had their own story to weave into the grasslands, and they without a word promised each other that they would be epic tales in deed.

[Lariat]

Solicah

Experience:

Running: 2 xp
Teaching: 2 xp
Webbing: 2 xp
Meditation: 1 xp

Lores:

Inducting a someone into webbing

Kelaugh

Experience:

Running: 2 xp
Meditation: 2 xp
Webbing: 1 xp

Lores:

The Web

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